STAFF WRITERS
THE Nationals are calling on Premier Daniel Andrews to be honest with locals regarding the supposedly temporary closure of a key access route for local residents.
State Upper House Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath, Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, and Member for Morwell Martin Cameron have all been approached by Tyers and Traralgon residents concerned about the social and economic impacts of the closure of the Latrobe River Bridge. “It’s costing people more money in transport costs and is a potential safety risk in accidents or other emergency situations when every minute counts,” Ms Bath said. “The Premier promised a new bridge in 2015 and it should never have reached the point where the old bridge was in such a state of disrepair that it’s been closed to all traffic. “The Premier needs to be honest with locals and explain how long residents will be without access while the new bridge is built, or will the old bridge be repaired and allow some form of limited access?” Mr Cameron said he understood the existing bridge was approaching the end of its useful life, and welcomed the new construction, but was concerned about the disruption for local residents. “Residents are being forced to take a long detour for school, work, medical appointments and sporting activities and we simply don’t know what the plan is for the rest of this year while the new bridge is being built,” Mr Cameron said. “From all reports, the existing bridge has major structural issues which should’ve been address years ago by the Andrews government and we could’ve avoided this entire situation. “It costs more for tradies and other small business owners to drive the long way around, and those costs get passed onto families who are already feeling the pinch with cost of living pressures.” Mr Chester said Tyers locals deserved to receive up-to-date information on how long they would be denied access to Traralgon on the shorter route. “Residents need information so they can make longer term plans for their families,” Mr Chester said. “It’s ridiculous in a modern era of communication that residents aren’t being told the latest factual information by text, emails, advertisements or direct mail. “I’m also concerned the approaches to the new bridge will still be subject to flooding unless the entire section of the road is raised.”
